Electric switch.



C. F. KETTERING & R. S. DE MAREE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLlcATloN FILED Juni-1.1913.

1,225,820. y Patente@ Mayu., 1917.

Wwf-W .W A .Urn-816.

NETE STTE PA nur onirica.'

CHARLES F. KETTERING AND ROBERT S. DE 'ivAREE, GF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE DAYTON ENGINEER/HJG LLBOREORIES CO., A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

To L7/Z I.ro/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. Kn'r'rnnino and ROBERT S. DE lVfAnnn, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electric Switches, ofv

which the following` is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to an improvement in controller switches for electrical systems, and more particularly to systems of that type wherein a. plurality of circuits or combinations of circuits are so arranged, that by the operation of the controller element certain combinations and sets vof circuits may be made and broken to secure the performance of various desired functions.

@ne of the objects of the presentfinven* tion is to provide a switch unit, wherein the cooperating elements thereof are so arranged that compensation will be effected for commercial inaccuracies and also for those inaccuracies which tend to be incurred by continued usage or wearing of the various elements, the purpose being to preserve and maintain the efliciency of the switch unit, as by insuring a perfect contact.

A further object of the present invention, resides in making one of the cooperating Contact elements of the switch, capable of asubstantially universal movement within certain limits.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for the switch unit, which will contain certain of the contact .elements and terminals thereof.

A further object of the inventioiiis to rovide a shield or guard carried' b 1 or secured to the switch cover, which willtend to prevent the various connections, secured to the cover or the terminals carried there-y preferred formiof one embodiment of the present invention is clearly In the drawings: Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the set forth.

electrical circuits and connections as emev bodied in one form of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of thev switch shown Specification of Letters Patent. Patnbed lay 15, 1917.

Serial No. 778,940. i

partly in elevation and partly in section, for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of certain of the cooperating elements of the switch, showing the compensating effect of the movable contact elements relative to the stationary elements, when the surface of one or both of said contact elements may be uneven, the effect being shown in a somewhat exaggerated extent for the sake of clearness.

Fig. d is an end View of the switch, shown partly in section and taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to the Fig. le, illustrating the compensating effect of the movable contact elements or brush.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the resilient cradle element, which supports the movable contact elements.

ln the fio-pending application of Charles Kette-ring, Serial No. 721,237, filed SeptemberlQ, 1912, there is shown a switch mechanism which comprises stationary and movable contact elements in combination withy a tripping mechanism for controlling the position of the movableelement relative tothe stationary contact plates.

The tripping mechanism illustrated in the present application, may be, and is shown in the drawings as beingsubstair tially the same in construction Vand arrange` ment as that shown and described in the above mentioned co-pending application, and therefore no further detail description of this structure vill be given, except as appears necessary to a clear understanding of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, it will be noted that the movable parts of the switch', which are contained in the casing 19, are controlled by any suitable means, connected to the shaft 20, which in turn has a link 21, connecting it to the shaft or rod 22.

The rod 22 may be termed the controller switch. rod, and has a contact carrier unit 23 and the coil spring 24.- mounted thereon,

which presses the same against the lingers 28 of the latch yoke 2G, pivoted to the frame as at 27.

These fingers extend along each side of the unit 23, normally engaging with the rollers or pins 29, which, in turn, are fastened to or carried by the said unit, and which are adapted to travel on the tracks 30, formed by providing flanges on the interior of the casing 19.

The yoke member is maintained in position by the spring actuated element 3l. A trip block 32, in pinned to the switch rod 22, and is, of course, moved concurrently with the connecting rod 20.

VThe carrier unit 23, in the present instance, is mounted on the rod 22 in any suitable manner. This unit is provided with a pair of arms 35, which support the movable contact brush 36, in a manner described hereinafter.

Brush 36 may consist of any number of sectional contact plates, three being shown in, the present instance, simply for descriptive purposes. These contact plates are insulated from the carrier 23, in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

To permit the different sections ofthe brush 3G to have a limited universal movement as is more specifically described hereinafter, each section is provided with an elongated opening al, through which passes the bolt or screw 42, of such a diameter as to offer no interference to the aforementioned limited universal action of the brushes. Y

The stationary contact plates are preferably secured to the cover of the switch, in a manner described more in detail hereinafter, a d comprise the plate 43, which is connected to the generator side of the electric circuit; the plate 44: which is connected to one side of the motor circuit; and the plate 45 which forms a common connection for the other side of each of the generator and motor circuits.

In Figs; 3, l and 5, the switch cover is shown in section, illustrating the method in which the stationary contact elements and their K respective terminals may be mounted to the said cover. This cover, in this instance, is rigidly held in position by means of the screws G2, which pass through ears provided on said cover, and screw into corresponding lugs provided on the switch shell 19. rThe relative positions of the opposite corresponding ears and lugs are such, that it is practically impossible to fasten the cover in an incorrect position.

This cover may be made out of any suitable insulating material, either by having the cover portion made first and assembling the different elements thereon, or it may be made as in the present instance, by locating the diferent elements in their respec- -tions of the switch will be permitted to tive positions and molding the cover into shape at the same time.

The desirability of providing the various sections of the movable contact brush eapable of certain limited universal movements, will appear as the description progresses. In the first place, the sectional brush above described, comprises the -movable element of the switch unit, which is adapted to be shifted from one position to another, in order to bridge or connect certain sets of stationary contact plates, when it is desired to change the combinations of circuits or electrical connect-ions, to secure different functions.

' lt will be appreciated that inasmuch as this movable contact element will have a rubbing or sliding contact with the stationary contact plates, a certain amount of wear will necessarily take place between the cooperating plates, and there is always a tendency for the cooperating elements to wear unevenly, either because of the fact that the difference in the har hiess or quality of the material which composes the said pl ates, or possibly due to certain foreign matter which may become lodged between said plates and which practically acts as an abrasive on certain portions thereof.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the compensating effect of constructing and mounting the movable element of the switch in a manner similar to that employed in the present invention, will be apparent where the movable elements and the contact plates carried by the cover have been worn so that the aliuitting faces thereof are uneven. This compensating effect of the movable brush elements, is obtained by combining the structure heretofore described, of the sectional portions of the switch, with the resilient support or cradle which may be rigidly mounted on the holder 23, by means of the screws or bolts 70.

This cradle element 39 is provided with sets of oppositely disposed fingers 40, the directly opposed fingers on each side of said cradle forming a support for one of the sections of the movable switch element.

It will now be seen that inasmuch as the several sections of the element 36 are loosely mounted on the bolt 42, the cradle 39 or the resilient fingers thereof, will be required to support the several sections of the movable switch element in proper position. Because of the resiliency of the fingers 40, the secassume such angle asv may be necessary for the cooperating surfaces of thesaid sections and that portion of the stationary contact plates with which they may be in contact, to lie coadjacent.

Thus, if one portion of one of the stationar'r contact plates is worn awav more than the remainder of said plate, the sections of the movable switch element 36 will conform to this ui'ievenness, to a certain degree by being enabled to assume angular positions, on account of the resiliency of the mounting afforded by the lingers of the cradle 39.

It will be appreciated that the universal movement which has bee described heretofore, of the sections of the movable element 36, will be held to comparatively small limits, inasmuch as an extended movement of these elements in any given direction will not be required.

By Yreferring to Figs. 3 Fig. 3, there will be seen certain positions assumed by the different independent sections of the movable brush 36, when in contact with stationary contact plates having uneven surfaces.

ln Fig. 5, there is shown. a variation in the surfaces of the contact plates which effects both the common contact plate 45 and the motor contact plate 44, the movable contact element 36 being under the pressure of the resilient fingers 40 of the cradle 39, so that its entire surface is in contact with the plates 45 and 44.

Each section of the movable contact element 36 is provided with a central opening or slot 46, which when the switch is assembled, is in direct alinement with that portion 47, of the switch cover which separates the contact plates 43 and 44, from the contact plate 45. This opening` or slot 46 is provided so that should either of the contact plates wear away faster than the portion 47 of the cover separating them, no rocking ed'ect would be obtained, which in case the slot 46 were omitted, would permit the movable contact element to rest on said portion of cover, preventing a good contact from being made. By providing the slot 46, the friction is also reduced, and thereby the wear on the different elements greatly lessened.

As illustrative of one system in which a switch of this type may be used to marked advantage, a brief description will be given of the circuit connections and arrangements Shown in Fig. l. t

Referring` to Fig. 1 wherein a diagrammatic view is shown, the movable brush element 36, is shown in full lines as connecting the generator contact plate 43 with the common contact plate 45, ythus permitting the passage of current from the generator 50, through wire 5l, contact plate 48, across the movable contactelement 36, common contact plate 45, common wire 52, branch wire 53, and through the shunt field of the generator, back across the armature. This completes what is known as the shunt iield of the generator. The charging circuit of the system, which embodies the storage battery, branches off from common wire 52, through and 5, especially wire 55, storage battery 56, wire 57, back to the generator.

lowever, when the shiftable element 36 of the switch is moved into a position, such as is shown in dotted lines in llig. l, the circuit mentioned above, will be broken and what is known as the motor or cranking circuit will be established. This circuit is so arranged that current will flow from the battery 56, through wire 55, to common plate of the switch, across the movable element 36, to plate 44 and flow through the wire 58, series winding 59, across the armature, and back to the battery, via wires 6l and 57. When the system is being operated under the last mentioned circuit, the electric machine will tend to operate as a motor, for any suitable purpose.

From the above, it will be seen that whenever it is desired to change the circuit connections of the systemit is necessary to shift the element 36, relative to the stationary contact plates 43 and 44, and it is just this shifting movement which will tend to effect an objectionable wearing of the cooperating parts.

A projection or guard vane is provided on the cover 48 between the terminal posts of the contact plates 43 and 44, and the terminal posts of the contact plate 45, so that any accidental connection or short-circuiting between said terminal posts is prevented. This projection or guard vane can be made separately and mounted upon, or as in the present instance, beV a part of the switch cover itself. v

While one preferred form of the present invention has been set forth and illustrated in the present application, it will be understood that no limitation is intended by said disclosure, but that applicants reserve the right to make whatever changes and alterations, either in the construction of the elements themselves or in the combination of said elements, as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

`What we claim is as follows:

1. In a switch, the combination with a casing having a head portion; sets of stationary contact plates mounted in said head portion; of a movable contact element slidably mounted in said casing and including a plurality of sections in electrical contact with each other, but capable of relative movement thereto; of a resilient member having sets of oppositely disposed fingers, each set of said fingers being adapted to resiliently support one section of said movable contact in contact making position.

2. In a switch, the combination with a casing9 including a heady having sets of stationary contactsl mounted therein; of a rod passing through said casing; a carrier mounted on said rod; and a movable contact including a plurality of sections having slots therein of determined diameters; a rod extending` through said slots and adapted to loe secured to said carrier for maintaining said sections oi" the movable contact from improper displacement, `the diaineters of said rod being less than the diameters of the slots provided in said sections; and a resilient member mounted on said carrier Vand having sets ot' oppositely disposed resilient fingers, each set oi? said lingers being' adapted to engage with and support one section of said movable contact in contact making position,

3. ln a switch, the combination with stationarj.7 contact elements; of a cooperating contact element comprising a plurality of sections; and a cradle havingsets of oppositely disposed resilient ifingers each set of lingers being adapted to resiliently support each of said sections independently whereby said sections are capable of relative movement. Y

4c. In a switch. the combination with a casing, of a removable head having sets of stationary contacts mounted therein; of an operating rod mounted within said casing; a movable contact mounted on said rod, ineluding;` a plurality of sections7 each having an Y enlarged central portion provided with an elongated slot; a carrier for said movable contact and a rod secured to said carrierand adapted to pass through said elongated slots;

and a resilient cradle having substantiallyY independent sets of oppositely disposed lingers, each set of lingers being` adapted to resiliently support one 01": said sections of the nievahle contact member in Contact making position relative to the stationary contacts.

in a switch, the combination with a casing having a head portion; sets of stationary contact plates mounted in said head portion and adapted to he separated hy part oit' said head portion; oi a moval'ile Contact element :flidaoly mounted in said casing` and including a plurality of sections in electrical contact with each other, but capable of relative movement thereto, each of said sections heing; cut away in alinement with that part of the head portion which separates the stationary contacts; and a common supporting' element having` provisions for resiliently supporting,` each ont.' the sections of the movable contacts in contact making position; and means tor permitting` relative movement ot the independent sections ot the movable contact hut preventingl accidental displacen'ient thereof.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. KETTERING. Y ROBERT S. DE MARRE. 1Nitnesses:

JOSEPH W. MoDoNALD, Gir-Tis D. MOWRY Copies of this patent may be obtained for 've cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

